A New Low in Corporate GovernanceDell
shares rose 6% Friday, after a supposedly independent special committee of the company's board okayed a surprise deal that will help founder Michael Dell take his company private on the cheap. But Wall Street may be overestimating his odds of success, Barron's says.

This week, Barron'sinterviews David A. Levy, chairman of the Jerome Levy Forecasting Center. He advises investors to prepare for the possibility of another U.S. recession.

European Trader: A Bullish Sign: Companies in Acquisition Mode An uptick in corporate deal making is a bullish sign for investors and economists, Barron's reports. The pickup in mergers and acquisitions activity comes amid early signs that Europe's weak economy is stabilizing or showing tentative signs of recovery.

Asian Trader: Don't Hang Up on Samsung The Korean electronics company's stock has been hit by worries about smartphone profit margins. The worries are overstated and the company also has lots of businesses to rely on for earnings growth, Barron's reports.